What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most people working from home (14.8%).

Lisbon has the most kids (19.3% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sterling	Lisbon
People
Population	3,192Lowest	4,235Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest NY: +4.2%	+2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.6±3.5Lowest 30% above NY	52.2±4Highest 31% above NY
	Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.3%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%	26.2%±6.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	24%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±3Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,750±$9kLowest 31% below NY	$73,963±$12kHighest 14% below NY
	Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,200±$41kHighest 67% below NY	$131,200±$47kLowest 69% below NY
	Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$681±$411Lowest 58% below NY	$944±$135Highest 42% below NY
	Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,568Lowest 61% below NY	$3,137Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±20.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	35.6%±37.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 18% below NY	19 minLowest 41% below NY
Work from home	14.8%±7Highest NY: 14.9%	5.7%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#407 of 484 in NY
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.